Management of major trauma

Trauma is one of the leading cause of deaths in those <35 years old in the UK. It also has a significant morbidity burden with a subsequent economic impact. There is also a realisation that trauma is having an increasing impact in the elderly population. In the last two decades there have been changes in both the structure of trauma care across the UK, and also in clinical aspects from pre-hospital care to rehabilitation. This article will review the changes that have occurred, including the reasons, and give a broad overview of the immediate management of the critically ill trauma patient.     

Oral Everolimus for Treatment of a Giant Left Ventricular Rhabdomyoma in a Neonate—Rapid Tumor Regression Documented by Real Time 3D Echocardiography

The presented case reports on successful treatment with everolimus in a neonate with left ventricular giant rhabdomyoma. The authors used a different dosage regime compared to literature and documented rapid tumor regression by 3D echocardiography.     

Stage 1 acute kidney injury is independently associated with infection following cardiac surgery

ObjectivesSevere acute kidney injury (AKI) is a known risk factor for infection and mortality. However, whether stage 1 AKI is a risk factor for infection has not been evaluated in adults. We hypothesized that stage 1 AKI following cardiac surgery would independently associate with infection and mortality.MethodsIn this retrospective propensity score–matched study, we evaluated 1620 adult patients who underwent nonemergent cardiac surgery at the University of Colorado Hospital from 2011 to 2017. Patients who developed stage 1 AKI by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes creatinine criteria within 72 hours of surgery were matched to patients who did not develop AKI. The primary outcome was an infection, defined as a new surgical-site infection, positive blood or urine culture, or development of pneumonia. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, stroke, and intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS).ResultsStage 1 AKI occurred in 293 patients (18.3%). Infection occurred in 20.9% of patients with stage 1 AKI compared with 8.1% in the no-AKI group (P < .001). In propensity-score matched analysis, stage 1 AKI independently associated with increased infection (odds ratio [OR]; 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-3.17), ICU LOS (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.71–3.31), and hospital LOS (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.17-1.45).ConclusionsStage 1 AKI is independently associated with postoperative infection, ICU LOS, and hospital LOS. Treatment strategies focused on prevention, early recognition, and optimal medical management of AKI may decrease significant postoperative morbidity.     

Double-balloon enteroscopy for retrieving retained small-bowel video capsule endoscopes: a systematic review

Abstract

Background and aim: Capsule retention is the most common adverse event associated with video capsule endoscopy. The use of double-balloon enteroscopy-assisted capsule endoscope retrieval has been increasingly reported in recent years. However, evidence is limited regarding its success rate, associated factors, and subsequent clinical outcomes.

Methods: A systematic review of relevant studies published before January 2019 was performed. Successful retrieval rate and associated factors, rate of endoscopic balloon dilation, and outcomes after double-balloon enteroscopy were summarized and pooled.

Results: Within 154 associated original articles, 12 including 150 cases of capsule retrieval by double-balloon enteroscopy were included. The estimated pooled successful retrieval rate was 86.5% (95% confidence interval, 75.6–95.1%). Anterograde approach and capsules retained in the jejunum or trapped by malignant strictures were associated with a higher successful retrieval rate than the retrograde approach (62/83 [74.7%] vs. 10/38 [26.3%], p?<?.001) and capsules retained in the ileum (41/41 [100.0%] vs. 43/58 [74.1%], p?<?.001) or trapped by benign strictures (21/21 [100.0%] vs. 65/83 [78.3%], p?=?.043). Endoscopic balloon dilation was performed in 38.8% (95% confidence interval, 22.3–56.3%) of patients with benign strictures. Two perforations (1.3%) were reported as severe adverse events after double-balloon enteroscopy. A significantly lower surgery rate was found among cases with successful video capsule removal compared with unsuccessful cases (7.2% vs. 38.5%, p?=?.002).

Conclusions: Double-balloon enteroscopy is feasible and safe for removing retained video capsule endoscopes, and its use could decrease the need for surgery in patients with benign strictures and facilitate subsequent surgery in patients with malignant strictures.     

Design and preliminary results of FRENSHOCK 2016: A prospective nationwide multicentre registry on cardiogenic shock

Central illustration: geographic distribution of the 49 centres participating in the FRENSHOCK registry (35 academic hospitals, 10 general hospitals and four private clinics). Inclusion per centre varied from 1 to 72 patients.

     

Wrong tooth extraction: further analysis of “never event” data

The NHS in England requires the reporting of defined “never events” that are directly related to patients’ safety. Analysis of data from 2012–2015 has been published previously in this journal. An examination of continuing data from 2015–2019 shows that “wrong tooth/teeth removed” has not reduced in frequency and it still remains a common “wrong-site surgery” event accounting for between 16% and 24% of wrong-site surgery never events and 7%–10% of all never events reported. Hospitals and community Trusts remain the main source of such reports, although some now originate from primary-care-based dental settings. Further efforts have focused on prevention, and the implementation of existing measures to reduce the risk of wrong tooth extraction, is warranted.     

Neurologic Complications of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Thoracic Malignancies

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the prognosis of cancers previously considered lethal. The spectrum of therapeutic indications is rapidly expanding, including the vast majority of thoracic malignancies. By enhancing the immune responses against cancer, the ICI treatments lead to the development of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that may affect any organ. Severity varies from mild to fatal clinical manifestations. Neurologic involvement is relatively rare and highly heterogeneous, including central and peripheral nervous system diseases associated with neural-specific autoantibodies or not, central nervous system vasculitis, and granulomatous and demyelinating disorders. Symptoms often manifest within the first four cycles of treatment and can develop regardless of the class of ICI used. An unfavorable outcome is found in up to one-third of patients and is generally associated with the patients’ clinical characteristics (e.g., age, coexistence of systemic adverse events), cancer type (e.g., lung cancer versus other), and specific clinical setting (e.g., ICI treatment in patients with preexisting paraneoplastic neurologic autoimmunity, ICI rechallenge after a first neurologic irAE). Diagnosis should be suspected in patients with new-onset neurologic symptoms while on ICI treatment which are not explained by metastatic disease or other metabolic/infectious disorders. Recommended treatment is based on clinical severity and consists of ICI discontinuation with or without immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory therapy, although alternative approaches are reasonable depending on cancer status (e.g., aggressive immunosuppression without discontinuing ICI in patients with initial cancer response). Early recognition and appropriate treatment of these neurologic irAEs are crucial for improved patient outcomes and therapeutic planning.     

Imaging Features of Pulmonary Immune-related Adverse Events

Pulmonary immune-related adverse events represent rare but potentially severe side effects of immunotherapies. Diagnosis is often challenging, as symptoms and imaging features are not specific and may mimic other lung diseases, thus potentially delaying appropriate patient management. In this setting, an accurate imaging evaluation is essential for a prompt detection and correct management of these drug-induced lung diseases. The purpose of this article is to review the different types of pulmonary immune-related adverse events, describe their imaging characteristics on both high-resolution computed tomography and positron emission tomography/computed tomography and stress their underlying diagnostic challenge by presenting the mimickers.     

Optimizing Prescribing and Deprescribing of Proton Pump Inhibitors

Prescribing of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has markedly increased since their inception more than 30 years ago. The increase is related to inappropriate and long-term prescribing of PPIs, associated with a lack of education and unclear prescribing and deprescribing guidelines. The implementation of prescribing stewardship programs influences the reduction and inappropriate use of this medication. The purpose of this review is to address the gaps that exist regarding the use of PPIs along with determining methods for deprescribing. Guidelines and stewardship programs, along with education, are needed to reduce the adverse health effects of long-term PPI therapy.